Spencer's Wood Day Nursery

Inspection of Spencer's Wood Day Nursery Basingstoke Road, Reading RG7 1AA

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Inadequate Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is inadequate

Children's safety is not assured. Adults are able to gain access into the setting unchallenged, via two security gates. Leaders do not ensure all staff understand and follow policies and procedures in place to help keep children safe. For example, information about injuries that children sustain is not always reported and recorded in a timely way. Additionally, some staff do not understand how to report or respond to safeguarding concerns outside of the nursery. This undermines children's safety in the case of a concern.

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The provision is inadequate

The curriculum does not provide children with enough breadth or challenge. Some staff do not interact purposefully enough with children to promote their focus on learning. There are many times during the day when children sit for long periods of time, waiting for staff to complete routine tasks. Despite this, most children settle well on arrival and staff welcome the children warmly into the nursery. Overall, staff are kind and, at times, they are able to engage with children during their play. For example, they join in singing activities, and roll balls to younger children to encourage cooperation. Younger children are curious as they explore many sensory activities. They delight and say 'more' as they roll wooden toy vehicles through paint to make marks. Staff provide a clear commentary to help children 'push and pull' objects and bring meaning to the patterns children make. However, not all staff have a strong understanding of what they want children to learn from

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The provision is inadequate

Staff support children to develop an awareness of the community in which they live. Children have opportunities to enjoy visits to their local fields and park. They learn about traditions and different cultures. Children practise some physical skills. Outdoors, they use ride-on toys to move around and use different tools to transport and manipulate sand. Older children are excited to gather a variety of resources to make dens. They say they are making a 'giant wall' for their house.

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need to do better?

n Children are not effectively safeguarded at the nursery. The premises are not secure and unauthorised visitors are able to enter. Furthermore, leaders do not support staff to gain a good enough knowledge and understanding of safeguarding policies and procedures and how to report child protection concerns to other agencies. These weaknesses result in the safety and welfare of children being compromised. n The provider does not ensure that staffing arrangements always meet requirements. This means there are not consistently enough suitably qualified staff working with the children and this impacts on the quality of practice and provision. However, with the help of staff from other linked settings, leaders took

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need to do better?

28 August 2024 steps on the day of the inspection to put this right. n Accident procedures are weak. Written records of some accidents children sustain are not maintained. The arrangements for staff to communicate with each other, for example when children have sustained a head injury, are not robust. This means children's health is compromised and is not effectively monitored. Furthermore, parents do not receive accurate information about accidents or injuries in a timely manner, in line with policy and procedures. n At times, the quality of staff's interaction with children is poor. Staff do not receive all the support and coaching they need to ensure their interactions with children are of a good quality. Young children, therefore, do not benefit from effective interactions that help lay firm foundations for their language and cognitive development. Staff plan a variety of activities. However, the learning

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need to do better?

intentions for these activities are not fully implemented by all staff working with the children. This means children are not supported to make good enough progress in their learning. n Staff support children to behave well and to manage their feelings. Children show respect for others and follow boundaries well. However, their attitudes and curiosity for learning are not good enough due to the lack of staff engagement that, at times, hinders children's learning. n Staff and leaders recognise the importance of supporting children to develop an understanding of healthy lifestyles. Children enjoy freshly cooked meals. They know the routine well and wash their hands before eating. Lunchtimes are social occasions when children sit and chat to their friends. Children enjoy outdoor play each day. n Staff provide parents with regular information about their child's learning and development. This supports parents to build on their child's learning at home.

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need to do better?

Parents explain that staff are friendly and caring towards their children. n Recent management changes and alterations to the team mean they have not had enough time to embed changes needed to improve the overall standard of care and education children receive. The arrangements for the supervision of staff are in the early stages of development. Although staff attend staff meetings and supervision sessions, they do not receive the most effective support and professional development opportunities to improve their knowledge and skills. This does not provide children with high-quality care and education. However, staff report they feel supported, and say that the team is building to become stronger and they work well together.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

There is not an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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Due date

take immediate action to prevent unauthorised persons entering the premises and implement an agreed procedure for checking the identity of visitors 13/09/2024

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Due date

ensure that all staff understand and can follow the safeguarding policy and procedures, and know what action to take in the event of a child protection concern, in line with the requirements of the local area 13/09/2024

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Due date

maintain an accurate record of accidents or injuries, to ensure parents and/or carers are informed as soon as practicable after, or of any first-aid treatment given 13/09/2024

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Due date

ensure qualification requirements are met in relation to the number of staff who hold at least an approved level 2 qualification 13/09/2024

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Due date

develop the monitoring of the provision, in particular to identify gaps in practice to improve teaching and to ensure all staff fully understand their roles and responsibilities 13/09/2024

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Due date

implement an ambitious educational programme and increase staff knowledge of the curriculum intent to help raise the standard of learning that children receive. 13/09/2024

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2743576 Local authority Wokingham Inspection number 10361184 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 88 Number of children on roll 71 Name of registered person The Childcare Corporation Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0800 0284500 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Spencer's Wood Day Nursery registered in 2023. It is located in Wokingham and is one of many settings operated by Grandir UK. The nursery operates from 7.30am to 6pm each weekday, all year round. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery employs 15 staff to work with the children. Of these, nine hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 2 or 3.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the nursery received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the setting and has taken this into account in their evaluation of the setting. n We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The inspector observed activities in the three main base rooms and garden. She talked to staff about the progress individual children are making and what they want the children to learn. n The inspector checked evidence of the suitability and qualifications of staff working with children. n The deputy manager and the inspector completed a learning walk across all areas of the nursery to understand how the early years provision and the curriculum are organised. n The inspector reviewed relevant documentation, including the arrangements for paediatric first-aid training. The inspector had a discussion with leaders about

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Inspection activities

the evaluation of the setting and plans for improvement. n A joint observation was carried out by the inspector and the deputy manager. The inspector observed interactions between staff and the children and the impact these have on children's learning. n The inspector spoke to parents and children during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

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Inspection activities

28 August 2024 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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